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Ukrainian soldier: The situation between Kiev and Moscow is tense
Photo: ANDRIY DUBCHAK / REUTERS
The tense situation between Ukraine and Russia alarmed the NATO forces.
In the face of a possible Russian invasion, Britain now wants to supply arms to Kiev, angering Moscow.
The Kremlin has criticized Britain's delivery of light anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.
"This is extremely dangerous and does not help to reduce tensions," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow, according to the Interfax news agency.
Moscow is concerned that neighboring Ukraine is being supplied by more and more arms suppliers.
Often these are not just defensive weapons.
According to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, the delivery will improve Ukraine's defense capabilities.
"These are not strategic weapons and they pose no threat to Russia. They are intended to be used in self-defense," he said in parliament.
Relations between Russia and the West are at a low point. Russia has massed around 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine. Soldiers are also being transferred to Belarus. The West fears an invasion, which the government in Moscow rejects. Instead, Russia is concerned with security guarantees. The government in Moscow is demanding, among other things, a commitment from NATO that Ukraine will not be included in the military alliance. The Alliance rejects this. The West, in turn, is demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the border area.
In Kiev, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock agreed with her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba to try to revive negotiations in the so-called Normandy format.
She is currently in Moscow and is meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
asc/dpa